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Saturday, 6 December 2014

Giant baby the size of a child aged FIVE due to severe growth disorder.............

A 10-month-old baby suffering from a severe growth disorder has already grown to the size of an average FIVE-year-old - and is showing no signs of slowing down.

Indigo Nowakowsky-Kaiuha suffers from Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome, a rare overgrowth disorder than only affects one in 15,000 children.

The tot, from New Zealand, already weighs 25kg - almost four stone - meaning she no longer fits in her car seat and has to wear adult nappies, the Manawatu Standard reports.

At birth, Indigo already weighed a staggering 4.8kg and at three months she was in clothes designed for a one-year-old child.

The condition also means that Indigo suffers from a wide range of symptoms including restricted movement and breathing problems.

She is now forced to wear clothes made for six to eight year olds and already weighs more than her six-year-old brother.

Illness: Indigo is already forced to wear adult nappies

But the syndrome is taking its toll on Indigo's mother Tiffany Nowakowsky, who has suffered back problems and is struggling to pay for medical bills and clothing.

She said: "People just don't get how big she is and how hard it is.

"People just assume 'oh yeah she's a big baby, I've had a big baby', but your baby hasn't put on weight this fast and has stopped growing.

"They just don't get it, the normal everyday thing that a parent does is much harder because she's so big."

The syndrome, which can be genetic or random, is tragically characterised by an increased risk of childhood cancer as well as above average weight and length, enlarged internal organs and a large tongue.

However, doctors hope her growth will 'level out', by the time she is around eight years old.

Ms Nowakowsky, who also has children Shade, six, and Devon, four, said she is struggling to cope with the pressure of looking after Indigo.

She added: "They want to play with her, but they didn't realise they can't play rough with her because she's still a baby even though she looks big.

"We don't know how big she's going to get or if she's going to be in a wheelchair because she can't walk, we just have to take it one day at a time. We are getting there, it's just harder."